PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC ADVISORY GROUP IN GERMANY CAPS ANNUAL CONSULTATIONS  

26 April 2007 — The Philippine Embassy in Berlin held its annual consultations with Team Philippines-Germany on 19 April 2007, featuring the launching of the Philippine Economic Advisory Group in Germany (PEAGG), established as an informal mechanism to support the Embassy's economic diplomacy goals and thrusts, particularly in revitalizing and promoting Philippine-German bilateral economic relations.  

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Delia Domingo-Albert presented the Embassy's work program for 2007 and engaged the Team in a discussion and exchange of views of the program within the context of the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy: political cooperation, economic diplomacy and public diplomacy.  

The Consultations adopted the Programme of Action for 2007-2008 focusing on the various dimensions of the three pillars of Philippine diplomacy.  

On Political Cooperation, the Team will focus its work on 1) establishment of a Philippine caucus group in the German Parliament; 2) the continuation of the Ambassador's visits to federal states, and 3) network with political leaders/figures at the federal and state levels.  

On Economic Diplomacy, the thrusts include the 1) creation of the Philippine Economic Advisory Group; 2) promotion of German investments in mining specially targeting financial institutions; 3) trade promotion to optimize use of German trade fairs; 4) investment promotion in tourism infrastructure development focusing on diving areas; 5) linkages with NGOs with focus on micro-finance, and 6) documentation on the long­standing bilateral relations and information materials in the German language.  

On Public Diplomacy, the Team will 1) create the Philippine Cultural Advisory Group in Germany; 2) pursue media programme with young German journalists who have visited the Philippines to counter misinformation and disinformation; 3) strengthen linkages with educational institutions with focus on technical training; 4) establish partnerships with museums for exhibition of Philippine artifacts in their collections; 5) strengthen relations with NGOs/women's groups; 6) open the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Essen, and 7) organize the visit of Honorary Consuls to the Philippines in 2008.  

During the meeting, the new Philippine Honorary Consul in Essen , Mr. Heinz-Peter Heidrich, whose jurisdiction covers the Federal State of North Rhine Westfalia, took his oath of office. He is currently the Managing Director and member of the Board of the Bank im Bistum Essen (Bank in the Diocese of Essen).  

Also present at the meeting were Consul General Armando Fernandez, Honorary Consul General Gerhard Zeidler, Honorary Consul Josef Wiedeler, Honorary Consul Heinz Peter Heidrich, Mr. Karl Schnadt of STEAG, Mr. Torsten Griess-Nega, Chairman of Zahnfabrik, Trade Attaché Rosalie Evangelista and Tourism Representative Dakila Gonzalez.  

Participants in the Consultations included representatives from the Extension Office in Bonn , the Consulate General in Hamburg , the Honorary Consulate General in Stuttgart and its Extension Office in Frankfurt, the Honorary Consulates in Gotha/Thüringen, Munich and Essen , the Philippine Tourism Office (PTO)-Frankfurt and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PITC)- Berlin .  

One of the accomplishments of last year's Consultations was the re-launching of the Embassy's user-friendly and bilingual website. The new website provided updated information on the Embassy's work and services to the general public in Germany as well as to the other German-speaking countries in Europe . The website could be accessed at www.Philippine-Embassy.de or www.Philippinische-Botschaft.de.  END

/jay

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